Every Sam Fender Song: Ranked

It’s been a while since I’ve written up an album ranking, and this time I thought I would do more than just that. As someone who got into the 0.05% of Sam Fender’s Spotify listeners this year, I suspected it wouldn’t be that difficult to rank each and every one of his songs. And I was wrong. Whilst I do know every song, I also really enjoy every song, and this might have been one of the most difficult articles I’ve ever written on the blog. But either way, I hope you all enjoy this discography ranking, and perhaps it may inspire you all to listen to my top artist’s brilliant array of music!

43. Little Bull Of Blithe

Best lyric: You may not recognise my face, you may not recognise my name, you may not recognise the little boy you raised, but always your little bull of blithe

By no means do I dislike ‘Little Bull Of Blithe,’ but one song has to be put last. There’s an endearing quality about it, and I love hearing the softer range of Fender’s vocals, but arguably it is less commercial than his other songs.

You can listen to ‘Little Bull of Blithe’ here:

42. Good Company

Best lyric: Sometimes I’m so selfish that it scares me, other times I’m selfless to a fault

‘Good Company’ is what I would call a ‘grower’ – an overused term – but I think it fits here nonetheless. You can’t help but be enamoured by the pure emotion in Sam’s voice. The lyrics resonate with many, noting how we experience a wide range of feelings that often contradict each other.

You can listen to ‘Good Company’ here:

41. Winter Song

Best lyric: Do you spare one thought for Jesus, who had nothing but his thoughts, who got busted just for talking, and befriending the wrong sorts?

‘Winter Song’ is a song that makes you think, with a heartfelt message that suggests we should expand our feelings towards other people during Winter/Christmas besides ourselves and those close to us. I chose the lyric above as the best as I think it very interestingly points out how this time of year isn’t so much about Christianity anymore, and instead we tend to focus on the more superficial aspect of receiving gifts.

You can listen to ‘Winter Song’ here:

40. Last To Make It Home

Best lyric: The sociopathic part of me hit the ‘like’ in hopes I’d coax you out of my derelict fantasy

There’s a warmth to ‘Last To Make It Home’ that you can’t ignore, especially when Fender sings the word ‘home’ for the last time in the chorus. The beat may be a little slower and mellow, making it less of a fan favourite, but I think this atmosphere cleverly reflects the meaning of the lyrics.

You can listen to ‘Last To Make It Home’ here:

39. Two People

Best lyric: Outside the world is turning, different life you’re yearning, but you just sit there burning, lying in his fire

‘Two People’ is the perfect example of how brilliantly Sam Fender writes about realistic life situations. Demonstrating how not everything is happiness and excitement, that not everything plays out perfectly, Sam makes a moving melody out of a complex relationship.

You can listen to ‘Two People’ here:

38. The Kitchen (Live)

Best lyric: It’s always in the kitchen, always in the kitchen, always in the kitchen where I waste my life

There’s undoubtedly a timeless appeal to ‘The Kitchen’, thanks to its incredibly upbeat tune and the energetic feel about it. You can’t help but want to sing along, making it an amazing song to be played live.

You can listen to ‘The Kitchen (Live)’ here:

37. Long Way Off

Best lyric: All the endless grey conundrums that are painted black and white, heard a hundred million voices sound the same both left and right

A song I didn’t pay much attention to until recently, and now I’m in love with the chorus. I think it takes a while to really get into the song, but once you’ve fully realised the concept of ‘Long Way Off’ which delves into the idea (or truth) that the different sides of politics all start to look the same, you’ll be having it on repeat.

You can listen to ‘Long Way Off’ here:

36. Call Me Lover

Best lyric: We will break under circumstances in the heat of it all, can ya take all the pressure that is left behind?

A difficult song to place. And this time it’s not so much the commerciality of ‘Call Me Lover’ that made me place it lower. The tune is perhaps not as strong as most of the other tunes on this list, but I still find it a really easy and memorable listen myself.

You can listen to ‘Call Me Lover’ here:

35. Leave Fast

Best lyric: A selfish little baby with no responsibility, watching people die in the cold

A really great song, sounding even better when played in the winter. I love Fender’s delivery of the lyrics, especially the chosen line above. I always feel like ‘Leave Fast’ and ‘Call Me lover’ are in the same sort of atmosphere, even though they are different in sound – maybe because they are neighbours on the album? Either way, it felt right to put them side by side.

You can listen to ‘Leave Fast’ here:

34. Friday Fighting

Best lyric: This toxic masculinity is all that I can see in floods of thirsty streets

I don’t see why anyone wouldn’t enjoy the exciting chorus of ‘Friday Fighting.’ Whenever it comes on, I can’t find myself ever skipping it, even if I’ve already played it that day or if I’m looking for another specific song. But whilst it may be a fun listen, I wouldn’t say it is the strongest tune amongst Fender’s discography.

You can listen to ‘Friday Fighting’ here:

33. Millennial

Best lyric: You’re rendered obsolete, and now you’re on your knees like the rest

I think the only true flaw of ‘Millennial’ is how short it is. I would have loved to hear more of the end interlude, which had such an admirable intensity about it. It’s another song I think would be fantastic performed live.

You can listen to ‘Millennial’ here:

32. Hold Out

Best lyric: This misadventure temporarily helps, ’til I’m lying awake in bed

‘Hold Out’ was the first non-album track of Sam Fender’s that I listened to, and I was absolutely blown away by such a powerful chorus. It’s the type of the song that just gets better and better as it progresses, and the more you listen to it.

You can listen to ‘Hold Out’ here:

31. Angel In Lothian

Best lyric: And I know drugs that can hold it, you gotta hold it yourself

Another song where it was incredibly difficult to choose my favourite lyric. In the end it was between ‘And I remember that pain in my mother, being helpless and feckless and far too young’ and the lyric above, one which reveals a melancholic nostalgia and one which demonstrates an infectious kind of integrity. You can that ‘Angel In Lothian’ is a really personal song for Sam Fender, and he sings with such feeling in his voice that you can’t help but follow the story with great emotion.

You can listen to ‘Angel In Lothian’ here:

30. Poltergeists

Best lyric: I’m a waster darling and I’ll tell it straight, put all my failures on a plate, she picks at them and doesn’t chew, and spits them out for me to view

Similar to ‘Long Way off’, ‘Poltergeists’ is a song I didn’t appreciate much until recently. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up the catchy tunes of the more upbeat singles, meaning we forget about the beauty of songs like this which unveil such feeling with just a piano and strong vocals.

You can listen to ‘Poltergeists’ here:

29. The Leveller

Best lyric: And the fear is the closest thing to fun that I have

Right from the beginning ‘The Leveller’ is an upbeat treasure of a song, but the chorus takes us to new levels of thrill. It’s got an authentic charm to it that separates it from Sam Fender’s other tracks – I can’t think of another like it, which makes it difficult to place.

You can listen to ‘The Leveller’ here:

28. White Privilege

Best lyric: Nobody talks to each other for fear of different opinion, they call the bigots dumb for buying into fear from the paper

Arguably Fender’s most controversial song considering his outspoken lyricism, but you can’t deny the truth in lyrics like the above. Recited almost like poetry, ‘White Privilege’ has melancholic undertones, reflected in the lyrics ‘I wanna be anybody but me’.

You can listen to ‘White Privilege’ here:

27. Howden Aldi Death Queue

Best lyric: I’m 25 going on 95, yeah I’m 25 going on 95 and I wanna die

Another really difficult song to place. Potentially Sam Fender’s most fun song to listen to. The instrumental creates such immense adrenaline and the music video matches the energy perfectly. I don’t believe I go a day without saying ‘that’s less than two meters’ in a Geordie accent.

You can listen to ‘Howden Aldi Death Queue’ here:

26. Greasy Spoon

Best lyric: She hardly sleeps, she hardly eats, she hardly breathes when you’re in her breathing space

Every time I enter my local greasy spoon diner, I can’t help but think of the gem which is ‘Greasy Spoon’. Whilst on the surface it’s a fun song to sing along to, it’s also a really interesting and relevant concept to write about, exploring the effects of misogyny and sexual harassment on women.

You can listen to ‘Greasy Spoon’ here:

25. Better Of Me

Best lyric: I convinced myself, that you were just another chemical I needed to be sweated out, until I saw you on the beach, birthin’ smiles at every passerby, that caught your beautiful eye

This song is proof that I did not place these songs in order of my favourites. Listening to ‘Better Of Me’ has been apart of my daily routine for the past few months. The lyricism in the second verse is so brilliant, it was difficult to choose the best line. The reason it is lower down is because somehow others didn’t have the same reaction I did when listening. Maybe it’s the slower beat? Either way, I adore it!

You can listen to ‘Better Of Me’ here:

24. Wild Grey Ocean

Best lyric: Haven’t felt my heart make a single sound, since that moment, you cried like a little girl, behind the wild grey ocean swept away my world

There’s this calming quality in ‘Wild Grey Ocean’ that you can’t help but fall in love with, created by the blend of the emotive piano and how impassioned Fender’s vocals are. Everything flows beautifully, with each element of the song working together to release a gorgeous melody.

You can listen to ‘Wild Grey Ocean’ here:

23. Use (Live)

Best lyric: Unwrap your cotton world and spare me this facade

The almost purely vocal melody of ‘Use’ is bound to evoke emotion in you. It’s possibly Sam Fender’s best vocal performance, enhanced by the subtle power of the piano. Lyrically it’s a strong song too, with lots of relatability for listeners.

You can listen to ‘Use – Live’ here:

22. Alright

Best lyric: Something waning in my head, can’t sleep and I’m seeing things, and I can’t stand the sight of myself

There’s a warmth to ‘Alright’ that draws you in. Maybe it’s the storytelling lyricism, or the texture of the instrumental, or maybe just the repetition of ‘we’re alright’. If you couldn’t tell already, ‘Alright’ is another of my favourites that like ‘Better Of Me’, placed a little lower because my family and friends didn’t quite have the same reaction I did.

You can listen to ‘Alright’ here:

21. Mantra

Best lyric: ‘Please stop trying to impress people who don’t care about you’ I repeat as a mantra

The line above is possibly one of the most relatable lines in music, as shown when I posted it on Pinterest and it got ninety pins. The instrumental and vocals work so well together to produce this sense of charm throughout, and then a mellifluous extended instrumental leads us out.

You can listen to ‘Mantra’ here:

20. Start Again

Best lyric: Let’s start again, let’s learn to talk, without the fear of being heard

I really enjoy the concept of this song, which guides us through a dimension where we live life on earth for a second time, and as a result we ‘Start Again’. The tune is incredibly catchy too, intensified by the heavy guitar at the chorus.

You can listen to ‘Start Again’ here:

19. All Is On My Side

Best lyric: All is on my side when you’re on my side

‘All Is On My Side’ is a love at first sight kind of song. You instantly feel at ease hearing the smoothness of the instrumental and the soothing flow of the chorus. It’s the ultimate song for a late night drive.

You can listen to ‘All Is On My Side’ here:

18. Play God

Best lyric: No matter who you are or where you been, he is watching from the screen, keeps a keen eye on the in-between, from the people to the Queen

The intense beat of ‘Play God’ is so addictive, especially when paired with another of Sam’s best vocal performances, showcased most towards the end through a powerful long note. The lyrics are also powerful in their language, adding to this feeling of intensity.

You can listen to ‘Play God’ here:

17. Spice

Best lyric: News in, he’s off it, but he’s not the same kid, I seen him last Sunday, his head’s f*cking gone mate

‘Spice’ managed to make it into my top five most listened to songs on Spotify Wrapped this year. There’s an addictiveness about the tune that you can’t ignore, with lyrics that tell a chaotic story amongst a correspondingly upbeat melody.

You can listen to ‘Spice’ here:

16. Pretending That You’re Dead

Best lyric: Is it really her and him? Do you think that they are doing it? I’m lying in my empty bed, pretending that you’re dead

I love the dramatic lyricism here. I never get tired of hearing ‘I’m lying in my empty bed, pretending that you’re dead’. I also love how the lyrics tell a story that allows us to follow along, backed by a pounding beat and ironically upbeat instrumental.

You can listen to ‘Pretending That You’re Dead’ here:

15. Paradigms

Best lyric: Every image of perfection, starts a goldmine

There’s something immensely powerful about ‘Paradigms’. I think had it been a single, it would have been a chart topper. The set of lyrics in the verses are so strong, it was difficult to choose the best, but I appreciate the impactful simplicity of the lyric above.

You can listen to ‘Paradigms’ here:

14. Getting Started

Best lyric: Cataclysmic age to be when you’re out of luck and your mothers in need

I almost forget how good of a song ‘Getting Started’ is, so much so that this moved up almost ten places when I heard it play again. Sam cleverly crafts a contrast between the despair of the verses and the optimism of the chorus, but both contribute to a melodic tune.

You can listen to ‘Getting Started’ here:

13. Aye

Best lyric: I don’t have time for the very few, they never had time for me and you

Sam Fender truly lets out his anger in ‘Aye’, and it’s nothing short of infectious. Line after line, he speaks observational truths. It’s a great song to play on repeat, as each time you notice a line you hadn’t before.

You can listen to ‘Aye’ here:

12. Poundshop Kardashians

Best lyric: We love them we hate them, we wanna see them fall from grace

My most listened to Sam Fender song of 2023, and also my second most listened to song of 2023. ‘Poundshop Kardashians’ is criminally underrated, with lyrics that are so true to reality. The second verse especially. You can hear clear passion in Fender’s vocals.

You can listen to ‘Poundshop Kardashian’s’ here:

11. That Sound

Best lyric: My mind is always troubled with, where have I been and where am I going

‘That Sound’ is so high up on this list because it serves for such a wide audience. It’s unequivocally timeless, and anyone who listens to any genre is bound to enjoy it’s adrenaline inducing sound.

You can listen to ‘That Sound’ here:

10. You’re Not The Only One

Best lyric: You’re composure is so greater, and you hold yourself so well, inside you cling to pieces of a broken carousel

‘You’re Not The Only One’ is so compelling because the songs feels like it is directed at us as the listener, for example the lyric above. There’s something about it that’s different to the rest of Sam Fender’s discography, but still not quite like anything else in the charts these past few years.

You can listen to ‘You’re Not The Only One’ here:

9. Dead Boys

Best lyric: We close our eyes, learn our pain, nobody ever could explain all the dead boys in our hometown

The build-up to the ultimate chorus in ‘Dead Boys’ is orchestrated fantastically, creating this irresistible kind of chaos. In fact, the whole song is structured perfectly to convey melancholic tones in a rising upbeat style.

You can listen to ‘Dead Boys’ here:

8. The Borders

Best lyric: No wonder you can’t stand me, I can’t stand me too, I can’t stand me too

A classic as well as a fan favourite – why wouldn’t ‘The Borders’ be in the top ten? The feeling of nostalgia in the instrumental guides us through the song, mirroring the flashbacks presented in the lyrics. Everything here comes together to create something truly mesmerising.

You can listen to ‘The Borders’ here:

7. Saturday

Best lyric: Must of made a thousand calls to get it sorted, my landlord hates my soul

One of Fender’s most melodic. Like ‘That Sound’, ‘Saturday’ is undeniably timeless. Many relate to the line ‘If Saturday don’t come soon, I’m gonna lose my mind’ but the lyric above can also resonate with some. We also receive a brilliant vocal performance here, too.

You can listen to ‘Saturday’ here:

6. Get You Down

Best lyric: I catch myself in the mirror, see a pathetic little boy

Similar to ‘Getting Started’, listening to ‘Get You Down’ again for the first time in a while made it go up a few places. I love how each element of the song – the vocals, the lyrics, the instrumental – are spotlighted, showcasing the best of each at different points of the song.

You can listen to ‘Get You Down’ here:

5. Will We Talk?

Best lyric: She said ‘I don’t usually do this kind of thing, does it change the way you think of me?’, thinking isn’t his forte

‘Will We Talk’ was the second song of Sam Fender’s that I discovered after ‘Seventeen Going Under’, and I’ll never quite forget how I felt when I first listened to it. Sam picks up on the emotional aftertaste of a simple night out and turns it into something so euphonic.

You can listen to ‘Will We Talk?’ here:

4. Spit Of You

Best lyric: And I can talk to anyone, I can talk to anyone, I can’t talk to you

How this song only peaked at 41 on the UK Top 40 when it was released, I will never know. ‘Spit Of You’ has great sentimental value – mellow yet passionate throughout. The music video is also one of my absolute favourites of Fender’s.

You can listen to ‘Spit Of You’ here:

3. The Dying light

Best lyric: The night is so impossible, it haunts the few who dare to look, it’s marks are so hereditary, I’m terrified of having kids

Words cannot describe how much I adore ‘The Dying Light’. The words summon such strong emotion in the listener, coinciding with the heartfelt piano. This song is the best example of building anticipation in music that I can think of. After the slow piano verse, the song shifts magically into a build up of emotions as the vocals, the instrumental, everything becomes more vibrant.

You can listen to ‘The Dying Light’ here:

2. Seventeen Going Under

Best lyric: I was far too scared to hit him, but I would hit him in a heartbeat now

Lyrically, ‘Seventeen Going Under’ is Fender’s best song. He tells a story regarding his own experiences but there also elements of the lyrics that are relatable for a wide audience, like the chosen line above. It really is so close between this outstanding tune and the top song.

You can listen to ‘Seventeen Going Under’ here:

1. Hypersonic Missiles

Best lyric: This world is gonna end, but ’til then I’ll give you everything I have

I think it’s safe to say that ‘Hypersonic Missiles’ has everything you need for the perfect song. Every time I listen, it feels like listening for the first time again. There’s something within the instrumental that evokes deep emotion but also a sense of freedom which I can’t quite describe.

You can listen to ‘Hypersonic Missiles’ here:

Musicians, buy your musical instruments here!

Music lovers, buy your favourite music here!